Textile Sustainability Certifications: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Standards

In order to meet these demands and demonstrate their commitment to environmental and social responsibility, major businesses and associations both domestically and internationally have established various textile certifications standards. Obtaining these independent certifications can help companies showcase their dedication to sustainability and gain a competitive edge in the global market. 

Organic and recycled textile sustainability certifications in the textile industry include: GOTS for organic cotton, OCS certification, BCI for good cotton, RCS and GRS certifications for recycling, Oeko-tex certification, etc. Additionally, certifications like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) ensure responsible forestry practices in the textile supply chain, further contributing to a more sustainable industry.

7 Key Textile Certifications for a Sustainable Supply Chain

This article explores key organic and recycled textile certifications and standards, providing insight into how these certifications impact the textile supply chain.

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is a leading textile sustainability certification that ensures both environmental and social responsibility throughout the entire textile supply chain.

The purpose of GOTS certification is to define the entire process of organic textile production, from the harvesting of raw materials to the labeling of finished products. GOTS guarantees the organic status of textiles and provides consumers with confidence in the sustainability and ethical practices behind their purchases.

This standard covers the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, trading, and distribution of all textiles made with at least 70% certified organic natural fibers. It encompasses a wide range of textile products, including fiber products, yarns, fabrics, apparel, knitted fashion (wearable) accessories, textile toys, home textiles, mattresses and bedding, and textile personal care items.  

• Certification Target: Textiles produced with organic natural fibers.
• Certification Scope: GOTS covers product production management, environmental protection, and social responsibility.
• Product Requirements: Contains at least 70% organic natural fibers, with a maximum of 10% synthetic or recycled fibers, and no regenerated fibers.

Organic Content Standard (OCS)

The Organic Content Standard (OCS) is a textile certification that verifies the presence and amount of organically grown material in non-food products. It covers a range of products containing 5-100% organic content, providing transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain.

OCS ensures that the organic claims made by brands and manufacturers are accurate and reliable. This certification helps businesses confidently source products that meet their organic material requirements. For consumers, OCS provides assurance that the products they purchase genuinely contain the stated amount of organic content, empowering them to make informed and sustainable choices.

Oeko-tex Certification

The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is a globally recognized textile certification system that examines textile and apparel products for harmful substances.

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 was established in 1992 by the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile Ecology (OEKO-TEX Association), it aims to test the impact of textile and apparel products on human health. 

The standard sets strict limits on a wide range of chemicals known to be harmful, including heavy metals, pesticides, phthalates, and many more.By adhering to OEKO-TEX Standard 100, manufacturers demonstrate their commitment to producing textiles that are safe for consumers and the environment. 

Products are classified into four categories based on their intended use, ensuring that items in close contact with the skin, especially those for babies and toddlers. 

• Product Category I: Infant and toddler products up to 3 years old (underwear, dresses, clothes, bedding, terry products, etc.).
• Product Category II: Items worn close to the skin (underwear, bedding, T-shirts, socks, etc.).
• Product Category III: Items worn further from the skin (jackets, coats, etc.).
• Product Category IV: Decoration/furnishing materials (curtains, tablecloths, indoor decorative covers, etc.).

Better Cotton (BCI)

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is a leading non-profit organization founded in 2009. BCI drives efforts to make global cotton production more sustainable. It partners with a diverse network of farmers, businesses, and other stakeholders to implement environmentally, socially, and economically responsible practices across the cotton supply chain.

BCI aims to transform the cotton industry by making sustainable cotton a mainstream commodity accessible to everyone. The organization provides training and support to empower farmers to adopt practices that reduce water usage, minimize chemical inputs, enhance soil health, and improve working conditions. 

Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) Certification

The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) is a certification that verifies the presence and amount of recycled materials in a product. Textile Exchange introduced RCS in 2013 to enhance transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain. As a key part of Textile Sustainability Certifications, RCS enables brands and manufacturers to make accurate and trustworthy claims about recycled content.

RCS applies to a wide range of products containing between 5% and 100% recycled raw materials, promoting the use of recycled resources and reducing the demand for virgin materials.  By choosing RCS-certified products, consumers can make informed decisions and actively support a more circular and sustainable economy.

Global Recycled Standard (GRS)

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is a textile certification that ensures transparency and traceability of recycled materials throughout the entire textile supply chain. It verifies the accuracy of recycled content claims, ensuring transparency and traceability of recycled materials from source to final product. 

GRS also emphasizes responsible manufacturing practices, including social and environmental responsibility, by requiring adherence to strict labor standards and minimizing environmental impact. Furthermore, it prohibits the use of harmful chemicals, promoting safer and healthier production processes.

Enterprises that meet these criteria and have products containing more than 20% recycled content can apply for GRS certification.  However, to display the prestigious GRS logo on their products, the recycled content must reach a minimum of 50%, highlighting a significant contribution to resource conservation. 

To help businesses avoid unnecessary costs associated with repeated evaluations, the GRS also recognizes equivalent standards in various modules. For instance, in the social responsibility module, if a company has already passed assessments such as BSCI or SA8000, it can submit relevant documentation to partially or fully fulfill GRS requirements, provided the assessments are within their validity period.

Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)

The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certification is a is a voluntary standard that promotes ethical and sustainable practices in wool production. On the farm side, RWS certification ensures that sheep receive Five Freedoms treatment, which includes freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain, injury, or disease, the ability to express normal behavior, and freedom from fear and distress. It also ensures proper land management and protection. Through the processing stage, certification ensures the correct identification and tracking of wool from the farm.

In summary, the focus of RWS certification is:

• Soil management methods used for farming that protect land health
• Complete supply chain transparency and an integrated tracking system
• Animal welfare on farms based on the Five Freedoms

Responsible Down Standard (RDS)

The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) is an independent, voluntary global standard that aims to ensure that down and feathers used in textile products come from ethically treated birds. 

RDS is a certification program jointly developed by The North Face, a brand under the VF Corporation, the Textile Exchange, and Control Union Certifications, a Dutch regulatory alliance. The project was officially launched in January 2014. 

RDS prohibits live-plucking, force-feeding, and other inhumane practices. It provides a chain-of-custody certification, ensuring traceability from farm to final product. This allows consumers to confidently choose down products knowing that the birds involved were treated humanely and responsibly. 

As sustainability continues to be a driving force in the textile industry, understanding and utilizing these textile sustainability certifications can help businesses demonstrate their commitment to responsible practices and meet the demands of eco-friendly consumers. By choosing products with these certifications, consumers can be confident that they are supporting a more sustainable and ethical textile industry.